(WBFF) — Each and every year, Santa makes a special visit to children at the University of Maryland Medical Center, spreading Christmas joy to those who may not be home for the holidays.
“I knew one day I would see him. I’ve only seen him like once,” Grace Harris said.
Santa found 12-year-old Grace Harris in the middle of chemotherapy.
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She was diagnosed with Stage 4 osteosarcoma in March and has been in and out of the hospital for months.
“I had a knee procedure and had a rod replaced from my femur bone to my knee,” she said. “Then I had a lung surgery and they took 35% of my lung.”
While they may have taken part of her lung, they haven’t taken the positivity her mom Tia has instilled in her.
“I want her to live a good fruitful life. I want her to grow up to be an adult. I want her to have kids of course, and I know I’m the force behind it,” Tia Crippen said. “I push her enough and keep her out of the negative conversations and I just provide a positive home environment for her.”
With just three more chemotherapy sessions, this one with Santa present may be the most memorable yet.
“This Christmas I’m looking forward to the gifts. I really like gifts,” she said.
“Son of a gun you’re a rarity. You really like gifts. If people didn’t like gifts I’d be out of business,” Santa said.
It’s these moments that Santa carries with him.
“One little boy was standing all the way at the end of the hall he was jumping up and down. He couldn’t wait until I got there,” he said.
It’s a little magic at a time when it’s hard to come by.
“Some of those children haven’t made it,” he said. “If you forget them, you don’t know what happens to them.”
It’s why he’s kept coming back for nearly two decades now.
“As long as I’m kidding with the kids I don’t get emotional,” he said.
He’s proving Christmas can find you wherever you are.
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